EXHAUSTED PANEL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17655, 3 September 1919, Page 4

EXHAUSTED PANEL.

SHORTAGE OF JURi'MEX

AN UNUSUAL INCIDENT. „

An unusual postion arose at the Supreme Court yesterday morning, when a criminal case opened.

The right of challenge, was freely exercised and when seven jurymen had been accepted the panel ran out.

As is usual when such cases arise the police closed the doors of the Court with the result that the. spectators found themselves faced with the prospect of filling the vacant places.

"Do you pray a tales," said his Honour to the Crown Prosecutor, and he went on to add .that he once was nearly drawn in a tales in America.

Proceeding, his Honour said to draw on the bystanders to' complete a Jury was the most convenient method, otherwise the sheriff' would have to go outside and get as mafny as necessary. Facetiously, he said that by closing the doors they had already captured as many as possible. .--

"Let the capture' begin/ said Mr Marshall.

The' "bag" in Court" did not prove very productive, but it yielded three more jurymen, one with a . pained expression, as he had merely dropped in for a few moments to see how things were going.

At this stage to use a sporting phrase, the Jury was "ten up and two shy," and as the body of the Court was of no further use as a trawling ground the sheriff, with a knowledge of 'where men do congregate in Wanganui," set out in search of recruits.

While reinforcements were being awaited the Court was adjourned and ten men good and true, were accommodated at the fireside in the jury-room..

Finally the search outside yielded the/necessary two—one was a blacksmith with traces of recent toil.

"I am very sorry that you have been summoned so suddenly," said his Honour, "but it is only obedient to the laws and it cannot be helped. Now you are added to the panel you will have to attend to the end of the week, but if you have any excuse to offer after the trial I will be prepared, to listen to you."

With a full Jury—numerically, of course—the case proceeded.